Billie Creek Village

Feature Article from Hemmings Motor News

Billie Creek Village is an assemblage of formerly deteriorated 19th and 20th century building structures that were relocated to a photogenic property in Parke County, Indiana. But thanks to the hardworking preservation-conscious residents of the nearby town of Rockville, the buildings have been restored to their original style and now this pretty park is open to the public for historical and nostalgic purposes, one of which is the area's most popular and friendliest collector car show.

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Better known for its annual Covered Bridge Festival, and the site where the movie "The Bridges of Madison County" was filmed, Parke County comes alive every third Sunday in July to the delightful sounds of old cars slowly motoring their way around the landscaped grounds of Billie Creek Village.
The cars that are attracted to this quaint setting are as varied as the restored buildings nearby. Representing all kinds of motorcars from just about every decade, one never knows what kinds of automobiles might show up. Through the years we've seen everything from a 1930's Chrysler Airflow Limousine to the Ghia-built Chrysler Turbine. From a 1927 Gardner to a 1979 Dodge Lil' Red Wagon pickup. Plus Chandlers, Packards, Willys, GTOs, and just about everything else in between.
As for those restored buildings, they include an authentic 1850's General Store and Blacksmith shop, St. Joseph's Catholic church from 1886, a Union Baptist church from 1859, a 1913 schoolhouse, a pre-1900s Post Office, a Maple Syrup Camp, a Cider Shack, and many, many more, all set among three Burr Arch-type construction covered bridges from the late 1800s. Add the aroma of fresh cooked Hobo Bean soup and cornbread, and this remarkable setting becomes the perfect place to sample some real down-to-earth Midwestern flavor.

This article originally appeared in the November, 2004 issue of Hemmings Motor News.